ALTERNATIVES TO CONVENTIONAL CHEMICAL INSECTICIDES FOR CONTROL OF GLASSY-WINGED SHARPSHOOTER

• Author(s): Puterka, Gary; Ciomperlik, David; Civerolo, Ed; Luvisi, Don;
• Abstract: Glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) is a major pest of grape because it vectors a serious grape disease called Pierces disease. Successful control of GWSS requires disinfestation of vineyards, citrus orchards, and plant nurseries in both agricultural and urban areas. Although there are conventional chemical insecticides that could be used to disinfest grape vineyards before harvest or treat urban areas for GWSS, there are concerns over public and environmental safety. Use of organically approved materials or insecticide chemistries safe to human health and the environment would be desirable, especially in GWSS control situations near urban areas. Currently, there are only a few organically approved insecticides (Surround WP, plant oils, and insecticidal soap) and information on how effective these materials are against GWSS is lacking. ARS and industry partners have developed two new insecticidal chemistries that offer significant insect control properties with improved safety to human health and the environment. Particle film technology (Surround WP) is based on the inert mineral, kaolin. Surround WP is exempt from tolerance, can be applied up to the day of harvest, has a 4 hour re-entry period, virtually no mammalian toxicity, and is listed as an approved organic production material. Surround WP is unique among insecticides in that it has the ability to repel insects from plants and prevents insect oviposition and feeding which could prevent transmission of Pierces disease. It has proven to be as effective as imidacloprid in controlling GWSS in citrus in recent small block tests in California. Sucrose octanoate is nearing EPA registration, made of food grade materials, is exempt from tolerance, and has also shown levels of control of GWSS that is as good or better than many of the soft pesticides currently available (M-Pede, Valero).
• Publication Date: Dec 2001
• Journal: 2001 Pierce's Disease Research Symposium